Qi Encyclopedia

The Qi of Sexual Love

Introduction. Too many people have lost much of the passions and pleasures of sexual intimacy. It need not be that way. Even the practice of a few of the ancient Chinese secrets of sex may help bring back past joys, and even offer the practitioner the best love making she or he ever experienced.

Source. https://commons.wikimedia.org
"Mahamaya from Cave 465, Dunhuang, China. Yuan dynasty, 14th century."

Comment. This is an example of Chinese Tantric-Buddhist art. The sexual union of the male deity Vajra and his consort Mahamaya (referred to as Vidiarajni in some descriptions of this mural) symbolizes the profound unity of wisdom and compassion leading to enlightenment.

Blockages. When working with men and women in qigong groups I am continually amazed at the blockages I see in the flow of their sexual energy. At times it seems that many of the women present have been seriously injured by rejections in past love affairs, by abusive intercourse, or by experiences of actual or attempted incest. Men may also be scarred. Their problems seem stacked around profound feelings of sexual inadequacy. I want to tell them sex is not about mechanical proficiency (though that may be gained through qigong) but instead, making love should be about physically sharing energy (qi) and becoming one with your partner in spiraling unfolding fields of ecstatic love energy.

One Daoist method of heightening the arousal of sexual qi is to gradually increase the penetration of the penis until full penetration is reached, then begin this pattern again with the partial penetration. Daoist master and medical physician Dr. Stephen T. Chang in his book The Tao of Sexology. Tao Publishing, 1986, [out of print], calls this technique the "Sets of Nine." The man slowly penetrates his lover's vagina with just the head of his penis. He does this nine times, followed by one firm deep stroke into the vagina. Next a "set" of eight shallow strokes and two deep strokes; followed by seven shallow strokes and three deep strokes, and so on until a final set of one shallow stroke and nine deep strokes. Then this process is repeated from the beginning. When the man enters the woman, she should loosen the walls of her vagina, and when the man withdraws she should tighten the walls of her vagina as if to prevent his leaving. Here Dr. Chang is using Taiji quán theory in patterns of vaginally alternating yin (loose) and yang (tight) patterns, and qigong exercise-like counting. (When Chinese people do qigong forms in parks throughout the world their leader often counts out the execution of the moves with one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten said in aloud Chinese.)

Sexual love should not be a race to see who orgasms first. In fact in the highest Daoist practices the man does not ejaculate semen. Upon orgasm, he internally guides it from his testicles into his brain. Further definitions and methodologies about this are beyond the scope of this article, but those interested, for a start they should reference "Daoist (or Taoist) Alchemy." See en.wikipedia.org For our purposes the man should hold back orgasm as long as comfortably able to do so. That lengthens the love making which should give the woman even more pleasure. A woman is free to repeatedly orgasm because she is not losing any Jing ("essence-qi").

Back to the lovers. Fully aroused, both slow their movements until hardly moving at all. Intertwined together, they touch their lips and the tips of their tongues (electric sparks of qi may be literally perceived), and the penis head slides into the opening of the vagina. By using focused awareness of their qi, and breath control, both should direct the qi to flow back and forth between them. If either—of both—are not sure this is really happening, just imagine that it is! (That can work as well as the real thing). Using the genitals, lips and tips of tongues as the connecting junction points, and the qi like bio-electricity will flow between their bodies. The sensations in the vagina and penis may feel "cosmic" and "heavenly."

One partner can visualize qi moving from their body into and out of the body of their lover; or each in turn can move the qi back and forth from each of their bodies; or both can notice if the vital qi energy is flowing up and down their governing (back) and conception (front) channels. The qi may do the same throughout the arms and legs, (see Microcosmic Orbit, by John Voigt. qi-encyclopedia - accessed December 9, 2025).

An advanced practice is for the lovers to do this cycling at the same time like two Ferris wheels each spinning in opposite directions. Any aggressive movement and ejaculation is not needed. Although very advanced it is possible for one or both partners to orgasm within their entire bodies, effortlessly, many times and for extended periods of time without the male physically ejaculating sperm or semen. Training from a sifu master (who is known to be morally virtuous) certainly helps; but in any case much can be accomplished by the couple’s loving experimental practice.

(Certain Daoist spiritual practices have focusing on and directing this energy from the aroused sex center in lower abdomen to the heart center in the middle of the chest where the passionate emotions may be transmuted into a selfless-love. Then the energy is moved to the center of the mind, where Love can blossom and be transformed into the vestiges of the Dao itself. When this meditation is complete it is absolutely necessary that the qi-energy be returned for storage for future use to the Dantian in the lower abdomen.)

When done fully, each partner may enter into a state of continuous body orgasm (there is no loss of sperm). It is an ultimate physical, energetic, and spiritual ecstatic love experience for both. But as with any advanced qigong, it is best to learn it directly from a master and practice it over time. This article only outlines the process. But if the reader is comfortably adept in moving their internal qi energy, they cautiously, and carefully might begin with the approval of their lover. Approach this slowly. As with any intense spiritual practice there is a possibility of a dangerous qi "short circuiting." Use common sense: if anything does not feel right for either of you then stop doing it. If you want to continue learning it find an experienced and ethical Daoist master teacher.

Nevertheless, in its simpler forms it is relatively easy to learn. Once the lovers can sense and then direct their qi through mental focus and breathing, it should be able to be done at a rudimentary level. In a comfortable position the couple lie down and hold each other and begin gently enacting the Qi of Sexual Love.

Related: Qi | Modified: 12/11/2025